[frankinstien]

Robotic skin that can feel is a big problem with only R&D prototypes solutions, no real commercial product. However, there is something called Velostat/Linqstat Pressure Sensitive Conductive Film. The video below shows how a tactile sensory matrix could be built:



The problem with the solution in the video is it's very labor-intensive.  I then discovered that there is conductiveTPU filament, that's when the light turned on! Why not just print the flexible matrix layers using a dual filament extruder 3D printer?  Has anyone tried using the TPU conductive filaments and if so what kind of results did you get?

[frankinstien]

I found a commercial product that could work as a tactile sensor, it uses conductive ink. 



Conductive ink can be just purchased for a DIY solution. Here's a product in the form of a pen.

[ivan.moony]

[infurl]

Given that you can cheaply 3D print with flexible materials, it ought to be possible to come up with a practical design for a touch sensor that isn't so labour intensive to make and that doesn't require so much computation to use.

[HS]

Seems like it would need to be elastic in three dimensions, and have a repeated internal structure which could register the degrees and directions of deformation.

How about a crosshatch of capillaries filled with a conductive fluid inside a sheet of silicone? Deformation would be measured through changes in electrical resistance. The directions of deformation could be detected by an assortment of unique capillary cross-sections; some would close with downward pressure/deformation, others would close with left, right, up, down, shears. These five or six basic tube shapes could be repeated to cover large surface areas. They could also be repeated at various depths and sizes to measure greater pressure ranges.

[frankinstien]

Here's an example of using Graphene as conductive filament and a capacitive touch sensor: